My sincerest apologies for not gracing you all with a new post last week. I have no other excuse besides I was behind on life and mildly losing my shit. I appreciate your understanding. (Try that one with your boss the next time you are late for work and let me know how it goes.)
This week I thought we would change it up a bit and have a little fun. I have put together a very thoughtful and somewhat serious guide to surviving quarantine round 2. I will be the first to admit, when I was sent home from work back in March I thought I would be one of the few that was going to be fine not leaving my house for months on end. After all, I am an introvert and I missed out on the hibernating season last year. But boy did I prove myself wrong! While I may need more time than most to recharge my social batteries, this has been a challenging time and I’ve had to get really creative.
If you watch pretty much any news station, it is no secret that this virus is continuing to spread and we are getting closer and closer to another quarantine period. Hence my following guide to surviving quarantine round 2.
Step 1: Make peace with the fact that COVID is on the rise and you should keep your ass at home.
Step 2: Make sure you have a stellar mask to wear in the event you must leave your home. You never know who you are going to run into at the grocery store and you surely don't want to be caught in last night's mask if you know what I mean.
Step 3: Take a solid amount of time to peruse the upcoming TV listings and DVR anything and everything you might want to watch. I’m sure we have all watched 90% of Netflix by now. (If you don't have cable skip to step 5)
Step 4: Clean out your DVR! Let’s be honest you're never going to go back and watch the 4 hour Macy’s Day Parade from 2018 so make room for your new shows.
Step 5: Order some books to read. Sadly I don't have a lot of suggestions in this area, I don't really love to read. But hot tip: order “Used” books on Amazon and only pay a fraction of the price. Side note, my friend found $150 in a used book she ordered so you never know what you might get. True story.
Step 6: Stock up on your favorite wine. The BevMo 5 cent wine sale is where it's at! And if you don’t drink alcohol make sure you have plenty of what you love to drink because hydration is key.
Step 7: Limber up! Find a stretch routine that works for you because I’m telling you, sitting on your butt can seriously make you sore.
Step 8: Stock the house with the essentials but don’t be a greedy B. We have learned by now that no one is actually going to die from lack of toilet paper so please purchase appropriately.
Step 9: Keep up on your hygiene. Just because you might be in quarantine does not mean you get to stop showering or brushing your teeth. Shaving, sure, blow that shit off we aren't trying to impress anyone. But showering and brushing your teeth are for your benefit and will make you feel much much better.
Step 10: Indulge in a pretty journal and document your life. This will be in history books 40 years from now and how cool would it be to actually have a journal of your life during this time.
Step 11: Set the bar low!! Yes you heard me. LOW! This is a phase that we all need to have patients with. It’s a tough time for all of us and you don't need to make life harder on yourself by setting unrealistic expectations of what you think you should be doing during this time. If you haven't cleaned out the garage or mastered a foreign language, guess what, the world will go on. Focus on maintaining your sanity and your health right now.
Step 12: Practice compassion for yourself and others. I struggled with this big time this week but we all need a little bit extra right now. Just remember we all are trying our best. There will be good days and there will be bad days but better days are ahead!
Finally, please stay safe and healthy this holiday season. Your life matters so please do what you can to take care of yourself. Below are some links to mental health services, housing services, food services and more. I know this will be a difficult season for many people but there are resources available if you need them!
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline 1-800-931-2237
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services hhs.gov/programs/social-services
Feeding America feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
Disclaimer: Please note, all information on The Cheeky Life is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional care. The intention of this blog is to connect with the community and share my personal experiences with mental health, eating disorders, and life in general. All opinions are my own.
